Twenty one feet longer than the Italian/Grecian pair but with the same breadth and depth she was the first of the Harland & Wolff 'long ships'. Initially thought to be unsafe, they were nicknamed 'Bibby's coffins' but, at the end of the day, they turned out to be highly economical and good vessels. So much so that other ship-owners were encouraged to lengthen their ships in a similar manner.

 

On 1st January 1873 she was acquired, with the rest of the Bibby fleet, by Frederick Leyland & Company In 1879 she was given a compound engine by G. Forrester of Liverpool and, at the same time, her masts were reduced from three to two.

 

On 25th April 1901 JP Morgan purchased the fleet of Frederick Leyland but he had no use for the Mediterranean traders or the vessels serving Canada from the Continent. Consequently, the Mediterranean ships were sold to the London, Liverpool & Ocean Shipping Co. On 1st January 1902 the fleet was placed under the management of Frank Swift but the Egyptian, being surplus to requirements, was broken up early in 1903.